Pinup modeling - 3 week workshop

During this three week workshop, led by photographer Dale Rio, students will not only learn the basics of pin-up modeling, but they will hear about the history of the pin-up, historical trends in clothing and styling, hair and make-up tips, and practical information on the business of photography and modeling. The class will culminate in individual shoots yielding photos that students can use as learning tools and for promotion purposes.

Week 1:

A history of the pin-up and pin-up practicum: Students will be given an overview of pin-up history with an emphasis on exploring eras and styles beyond what is generally perceived as pin-up’s Golden Age.

Dale will also address the business aspects of pin-up photography, including how to choose a photographer, how to conduct yourself during a shoot, contracts and legal issues, and how to develop a mutually beneficial relationship between model and photographer, among other topics.

Students will be asked to bring to the next class meeting: Photos of hair and make-up looks they would like to achieve and images of poses they would like to try.

Week 2:

Hair and make-up demo and posing test run: A guest instructor will break down period hair and make-up for students and give demonstrations on how to achieve the perfect pin-up look. Time allowing, students will also experiment on themselves and others.

After a good stretch, students will feel what it’s like to hold pin-up poses, which can appear deceptively easy.

Students will be asked to bring to the next class: Images that convey the look and feel that they would like to achieve at their shoot.

Week 3:

The shoot! he class culminates in individual photo shoots for each student. Images will be uploaded to a password protected Flickr site to which only students will have access. All images will be uploaded, (the good and the not-so-good), so students can learn what poses work best for them. Students will be able to download images they like for promotional use.

The workshops start at noon and finish at 4pm. Cost is $195

Location: 44 Stewart Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237.This location is about a block and a half off the Jefferson Stop on the L train. Additional locations may be employed for shoots.

Jo Weldon was recently a featured performer in Margaret Cho's variety show, the Sensuous Woman. She recently served as coach and consultant on the Victor Victrola episode of Gossip Girl. In 2007, the Village Voice named her Best Teacher in their Best of New York issue in Arts and Entertainment. In 2006 she was voted Best Burlesque Teacher and Mentor at the New York Burlesque Festival, and in 2005 she was voted Best Bump N Grinder. She is the judging co-ordinator for the Miss Exotic World Pageant and has been producing at Coney Island's Burlesque at the Beach series for five years. Going back a ways, in the early 1990s she was a feature dancer, traveling across the country with trunks full of props and costumes to headline at strip joints across the US and Canada; she performed her first fan dance in 1991. She also maintains a burlesque blog featuring backstage photos, news items, and interviews at burlesquedaily.blogspot.com.